Subgenual cingulate cortex volume in first-episode psychosis

Objective: Gray matter volume and glucose utilization have been reported to be reduced in the left subgenual cingulate of subjects with familial bipol ar or unipolar depression. It is unclear whether these findings are seconda ry to recurrent illness or are part of a familial/ genetic syndrome. The au thors' goal was to clarify these findings. Method: Volumetric analyses were performed by using magnetic resonance imaging in 41 patients experiencing their first episode of affective disorder or schizophrenia and in 20 normal comparison subjects. Results: The left subgenual cingulate volume of the p atients with affective disorder who had a family history of affective disor der was smaller than that of patients with affective disorder with no famil y history of the illness and the normal comparison subjects. Patients with schizophrenia did not differ from comparison subjects in left subgenual cin gulate volume. Conclusions: Left subgenual cingulate abnormalities are pres ent at first hospitalization for psychotic affective disorder in patients w ho have a family history of affective disorder.